Method and apparatus for testing gas mixtures.



T. M. EYNON.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING GAS MIXTURES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1911. I v

Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0" WASHINGTO D. c.

THOMAS M. EYNON, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING GAS MIXTURES.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

Application filed September 22, 1911. Serial No. 650,780.

i To all whom it may concern:

mobile engine.

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. EYNoN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a certain newand useful Method and Apparatus for Testing Gas Mixtures, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The purpose of my invention is to provide for a scientific determinationof gaseous mixtures.

A further purpose of my invention is to compare the weight of equalvolumes of a gaseous mixture and air or other suitable standard,preferably placing both under pressure in order that the differences maybe more easily and more accurately measured.

A further purpose of my invention is to force a gaseous mixture into oneside of a preferably U tube measure of gaseous weight or density andforce a standard, as air, into the other side at equal pressure,comparing them to determine the proportions of the gaseous mixtureeither comparatively to a previous test or in actual percentagedetermined by previous calibration.

A further purpose of my invention is to superimpose the indicating meansof gages subject to fluids under comparison.

Figure 1 represents, in elevation and partly in diagram, one form of myinven- :tion. Fig. 2 represents the gage of Fig. 1

in section parallel to the paper.

In the analysis and tracing of vapor engine troubles, particularlyautomobile troubles, as well as in the examination and testing ofengines and automobiles when seemingly operating well, there is need ofmeans for determining the actual or com-- paratlve performances of thecarbureter and piplng in mixing and distributing the gasefuel, of whichgasolene is here assumed to be typical. The proportion of gasolenejvapor and air used is highly important. No effective means ofdetermining the propor-; tion has been available and it has been judgedOHS chiefly from the performance of the engine,

into which various other factors obviously compared.

I have applied my invention to an auto- It will be evident that it isequally applicable to all locations where knowledge of the proportionsof a mixture of gases of different densities is desirable.

I have illustrated but a part of a wellknown structure in connectionwith which my invention is useful, showing for example, two cylinders 1,2, only, of propulsion mechanism which may involve many more cylinders.I have illustrated carburetor 3 as feeding the engines through amanifold comprising horizontal pipe A and vertical pipe 5, the gas beingintroduced to the cylinders through suitable intakes. The fuel gas isadmitted at 6 and the air at 7 These are wellknown and may vary greatlyin their construction and physical arrangement.

At any desired point 8, in the manifold, by means of a valve showndiagrammatically at 9, I connect one side 10 of the pump 11, whosepiston 12 is operated by suitable mechanism, here shown as handle 13.Check valves 14land 15 are placed within the connections upon oppositesides of the pump to represent any simple form of pump valveconstruction. The connection at 8 is preferably permanent and notadjustable. Operation of the handle 13 is eflective to v draw gas fromany part of the manifold to which the connection 8 is made, and to forceit into a suitable gas density measure 17 of the constructionhereinafter described. I recognize that any form of measure for theweight or density of gas, either by absolute or comparative methods,will be suitable for this purpose provided it be sufficientlydelicate,not too much affected by vibration and properly calibrated, andthat comparative methods do not require even actual calibration. Irecognize also that it may not be necessary in all cases to place thegas under pressure or condense it, but prefer to do so for the reasonthat the weight of the column of gas will be much greater as comparedwith the column of air where both are under pressure, than if thepressure be not present, and that the consequent opportunity for errorin measurement becomes less as the delicacy required of the instrumentis reduced. I recognize also that slight variation in pressure of thegases compared will affect the seeming weight of the columns of gascompared and that accuracy of the readings of two pressure gagemechanisms or other suitable means of determiningtheir equality ofpressures or relative pressures, connected to the two sides of themeasure, as well as accuracy in comparing them where two gages are used,is essential to the success of my method and apparatus when the pressureis raised upon one or, preferably, both the two gases compared. Thiswould render it desirable to keep the pressure as low as the delicacy ofthe measuring apparatus used would permit.

In the mechanism which I illustrate, I have selected a U tube havingboth sides 18, 18 filled to the point 19, at which graduation begins,with a colored gas or a liquid heavier than the gases to be compared andcapable of movement in the two sides of the U in proportion to theweight of the gas columns bearing upon the two surfaces. The valve 20prevents movement of these gases during preparation for the test.

In supplying the gases to the two sides of the tube, I use connectionswhich I have shown as including the common T' 21, the section 22, T 23,valves 24, 25 and graduated tubes or scales 26, 27. Between the valvesand the scales by any suitable connections, here shown as Ts 28, Iconnect two gages having preferably co-axial needles 29, 30, the oneoperating a needle by means of a tube 31 surrounding the spindle 32 ofthe other. These gages may be in the form of Bourdon tubes 33 and 34, ifdesired. Iprefer to make the needles co-axial because they can then bematched directly, one over the other, in reading, avoiding error in thereading as much as possible and giving opportunity for immediateobservation in case of leakage on either side. They can also be comparedat any position without reference to their common scale.

I show a valve 35 for use when desired to avoid passage of the gas beingpumped through the valve 24 into the pipe 22, and provide free airexhaust valve 36 open for the purpose of freeing the gases upon bothsides of the tube from pressure. Valve 37 and free air admission pipe 38admit air when desired at T 39.

With the construct-ion shown, when it is desired to pump mixed air andgas from the manifold into one side of the tube, as 18, the valves 9 and24 are opened and valves 20, 36, 37 and 25 or 35, preferably the latter,are closed. Operation of the pump will place the desired pressure ofgases upon the surface of the side 18, forming a column thereabove,predetermined by the length of the connections in the design of theinstrument. The pressure upon this side is indicated, for example, byneedle 29. The valves 9, 24 and 25, if it has not previously beenclosed, are now .closed and valves 36, 37 and 35 are opened. Theoperation of the pump first expels all of the mixed ases previously pumed from the manlfold through valve 36. The valve 36 is then closed andvalve 25 opened. Operation of the pump now results in forcing air uponthe surface of the side 18 of the U tube, and this is increased untilthe needle 30 exactly matches the needle 29 in position. Valve 25 is nowclosed. When the valve 20 is opened, the height of the fluid in thescale 27 indicates the excess of pressure due to excess of weight of themixed gases from the manifold over that of the air. The various heightsshown upon the scale 27 will indicate the densities of the mixturecomparatively and the scale may be calibrated to indicate actualproportions in the gas mixture.

The accuracy of the gages may be checked by filling both sides above thefluid in the tube with air or gaseous mixture under the same pressures,as the heights of fluid in the two sides of the U column should then beequal.

Obviously, the pressure upon the side or compartment intended torepresent the standard may be obtained in any suitable way, and may bemaintained. Where this is intended a fixed marking may be used torepresent the position which the needle would have to correspond withthis pressure.

My invention contemplates the use of other gages, connections, etc.,whereby, either by calibration or comparison, the

density or weight of gases or vapors withdrawn from a manifold or mixingchamber or other feeder for an engine, may be determined.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character stated, avapor mixer, a comparative measure for the density of vapors and meansfor conveying the mixed vapor and a standard gas to the measure fordetermination of the density of the mixture.

2. In a device of the character stated, a chambered comparative measurefor the density of the gases in the manifold of an explosion engine andof a standard gas and means for forcing mixed gases from the manifold toone compartment of the measure and the standard gas to anothercompartment for comparison.

3. In a device of the character stated, a U tube gas density measure,means for supplying mixed gases, and a pump and connections for forcingthe mixed gases 'upon the surface of one side of the measure and airupon the surface of the other side of the measure for comparison.

4. In a device of the character stated, means for mixing and supplyinggases, a comparative gas density measure having two compartments,pressure gages for the two compartments and having co-axial needles andmeans for forcing the mixed gases into one compartment and air into theother compartment.

5. In a device of the character stated, a comparative density measurehaving two compartments, means for forcing gases of different densitiesunder pressure into the two compartments, a pressure gage for eachcompartment and co-axial superimposed registering mechanisms for the twogages.

6. In a device of the character stated, means for mixing and supplyinggas, a comparative gas density measure having two compartments, a gageconnected with one compartment, a gage connected with the othercompartment and having its registering means superimposable upon theregistcring mechanism of the other gage and means for forcing the mixedgas and air respectively into the two compartments.

7. In a device of the character stated, means for mixing gases, a gasdensity meas ure and means for supplying the mixed gases to the measure.

8. In a device of the character stated, a gas mixing chamber, a gasdensity measure and means for supplying the mixed gases to the measureunder pressure.

9. In a device of the character stated, a

two compartment gas density measure, means for supplying a standard gasunder predetermined pressure within one compartment, a gas mixer andmeans for supplying the mixed gas to the other compartment.

10. The method of testing gas mixtures which consists in placing in thebottom of a U tube a fluid heavier than either gas to be compared,supplying the mixture to be tested and a standard gas in predetermineddepths to different limbs of the tube at equal expansive pressures, anddetermining the difference in heights of the fluid in the limbs of thetube.

11. The method of testing gas mixtures which consists in placing in thebottom of a U tube a fluid heavier than either gas to be compared,supplying the mixture to be tested and a standard gas in predetermineddepths to diii erent limbs of the tube, compressing both the mixture andthe standard to equal expansive pressures above atmospheric pressure,and determining the difference in heights of the fluid in the limbs ofthe tube.

THOMAS M. EYNON. Witnesses:

F. E. SOHULTE, J. CUSTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

